Review: Close the Coalhouse Door

THE HISTORY of Britain’s coal mining industry is one of constant struggle: struggle against the elements, struggle for financial as well as physical survival, industrial and political struggle between mining communities and the mine-owning masters.

In the late 1960s the play Close The Coalhouse Door was written by Alan Plater, based on the mining stories of his friend Sid Chaplin, with songs by Alex Glasgow. All three were born in the County Durham coalfield.

It was first shown in Durham, attracting miners in their hundreds as it told of their lives over a period of more than 150 years. Its run was extended five times.

Now the play has been resurrected in a collaboration between Newcastle-based Live Theatre and Northern Stage, and directed by Sam West. His skills are intensified by his own political passion for the cause of working people. Judging by their performances, it’s a passion which appears to be shared by the nine-strong cast.

Set in a North Eastern mining community Close the Coalhouse Door centres on one family whose men have been miners for generations. The multi-talented cast have the advantage of a superb set, topped by the winding machinery which once peppered Britain’s coalfield.

Anyone with experience of the coal mining industry could not fail to identify with the depictions of men crawling on their bellies to mine a seam of coal just 12 inches thick.

The timeline of the play ends before the miners’ epic struggles of 1972 and 1974, and their last battle for survival in 1984-85. Where once there were a million miners at 1,000 pits, today there are only five deep coal mines and 3,000 miners.

The performance is exquisitely held together by Jane Holman playing the grandmother Mary, and Nicholas Lumley as her husband. West took a seat in the auditorium to gauge the audience’s reaction. He need have had no concerns.

Close the Coalhouse Door returns to Yorkshire at York Theatre Royal from June 26 to 30.